Destructive windsTorrential rainPossible floodingPossible disruption to essential supplies like electricity, water and gas
ADVICE TO THE PUBLIC:
Intensity: Category 2, sustained winds near the centre of 110 kilometres per hour with wind gusts to 155 kilometres per hour.
Location: within 45 kilometres of 12.9 degrees South 138.4 degrees East, estimated to be 190 kilometres east southeast of Nhulunbuy and 240 kilometres east northeast of Alyangula.
Movement: west at 20 kilometres per hour.
Tropical Cyclone Narelle is over the warm waters of the Gulf of Carpentaria. Narelle is forecast to strengthen as it moves westwards towards the eastern Top End.
Narelle is forecast to cross the eastern Top End coast overnight tonight or early Sunday morning, most likely between Birany Birany and Numbulwar. Narelle will then weaken as it moves inland across the Top End on Sunday and Monday.
Hazards:
VERY DESTRUCTIVE WINDS with gusts to 185 km/h are forecast to develop in coastal areas between about Birany Birany and Numbulwar, including Groote Eylandt, this evening and overnight into Sunday as Narelle approaches from the east.
DESTRUCTIVE WIND GUSTS to 160 km/h are forecast to develop between Birany Birany and Numbulwar, including Groote Eylandt from this afternoon, and possibly extending to be between Nhulunbuy to Nathan River overnight tonight or Sunday morning depending on the movement of Narelle.
GALES with DAMAGING WIND GUSTS to 120 km/h are forecast to develop in coastal and adjacent inland areas between Gapuwiyak and Port McArthur, including Nhulunbuy and Borroloola, from this afternoon and continue overnight into Sunday. These GALES may extend west to Ramingining, Bulman, and Ngukurr on Sunday.
HEAVY RAINFALL which may lead to FLASH FLOODING is likely to develop for coastal and adjacent inland areas over the eastern Top End between Port McArthur and Nhulunbuy from this afternoon, then extending further inland during Sunday.
LOCALLY INTENSE RAINFALL leading to DANGEROUS AND LIFE-THREATENING FLASH FLOODING is likely over the eastern Top End between Numbulwar and Birany Birany, including Groote Eylandt, during this afternoon and evening
Tides will be higher than normal between Nhulunbuy and Port McArthur today and Sunday.
LARGE WAVES may produce MINOR FLOODING of low-lying coastal areas. A potentially DANGEROUS STORM TIDE between Cape Shield and Port Roper is possible as the cyclone centre crosses the coast with DAMAGING WAVES and DANGEROUS FLOODING.
